G ene Lee is an American restaurant executive who served for many years as the president and CEO of Darden Restaurants, one of the world's largest full-service restaurant companies. His wealth is derived from his long and successful career leading the massive hospitality enterprise. Darden's portfolio includes a number of well-known, casual dining chains, with Olive Garden and LongHorn Steakhouse being its two largest and most important brands.

Lee took the helm of Darden and successfully navigated the company through a challenging period for the casual dining industry, focusing on operational efficiency and brand revitalization. He also oversaw the spin-off of the company's real estate assets and the acquisition of other restaurant chains. His long tenure at the top of the Fortune 500 company and his significant stock holdings are the source of his considerable fortune. He retired as CEO in 2022.